Landowners wanted to earn extra income from hunting

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking for landowners in southeast Colorado to lease access for the 2013 hunting seasons as the Big Game Access Program will continue for a seventh year.

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By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Posted Jan. 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Posted Jan. 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM

LAMAR, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking for landowners in southeast Colorado to lease access for the 2013 hunting seasons as the Big Game Access Program will continue for a seventh year.

The pilot focuses on deer and pronghorn hunting in southeast Colorado on private lands in the following Game Management Units: 116, 117, 120, 121, 122, 125, 126, and 127. This seventh year will continue within the same GMU's.

The CPW will pay landowners to allow big game hunting access on their property -- similar to existing programs that allow access to hunt small game and upland birds.

The deadline to enroll is Feb. 25, 2013.

Eligible cover types of land for this program will be upland grass or prairie habitat with a focus on pronghorn, and river bottom or riparian land with a focus on deer. Landowners whose properties meet the requirements of this program can receive payment for allowing hunters onto their land.

Landowners whose properties meet BGAP requirements will receive payment for allowing hunters onto their land. Payments to the landowner will range from 25-cents per acre up to a maximum of $3 per acre depending on the size of the property, type of the habitat, and number of day's access is allowed.

There will be a ranking process by which properties are rated based on habitat quality, number of pronghorn and/or deer, and budget limitations. Only a limited number of properties can participate. The 2013 program will begin with the fall hunting seasons.

Previous properties in the program must re-apply to participate again in 2013.

BGAP benefits both landowners and hunters. The benefit to landowners is that it provides additional income. Hunters benefit because it opens up more hunting opportunities.

Enrolled properties will be clearly marked with CPW "Walk-in Access" signs. All posting is done by the CPW. Landowners' names, addresses, and telephone numbers are kept confidential.

Access to hunt on the land enrolled in BGAP is by walk-in only. Hunters must have a valid license for the season they hunt in and buy a $40 BGAP permit to gain access to enrolled properties. BGAP permits may be purchased at any license agent or CPW office.

The access stamp will apply to Pronghorn and Deer hunting only. Any other hunting on the lands enrolled in this program, such as small game, is at the discretion of the landowner with permission only.

Basic information on GMU's, locations, and ranches enrolled will be posted on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website at http://bit.ly/WTQpG7 prior to the big game license application deadline. Maps of enrolled properties will be available on the internet as soon as possible after enrollment is completed. Landowner applications may also be downloaded from the same site.

For more information or to obtain an application to enroll your land, please contact the CPW office in Lamar at 719-336-6600. Send written correspondence to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Attn: BGAP, 2500 South Main St., Lamar, CO 81052.